Need Advice: should we ship our Honda Odyssey to UK?

We'll be moving to England this summer on military orders and we're on the fence about whether or not we should ship our Honda Odyssey.  It's been a great van and it's paid for.  But is it too big for the roads and parking spots?  Most of our friends say sell it, but a friend who had their Odyssey in Germany said it was great and traveled all over Europe with it.  Please advise.  Thanks!

Sell it.  Not only will it be large to navigate, you will be on the wrong side of the car for things like parking garages, drive-thrus, etc and you will have to make your car UK road worthy.  It's not worth the hassle or expense to ship it. 

If you know you'll be moving back to the US shortly, can you store the car so you still have it when you get back?

We'll be moving to England this summer on military orders and we're on the fence about whether or not we should ship our Honda Odyssey.  It's been a great van and it's paid for.  But is it too big for the roads and parking spots?  Most of our friends say sell it, but a friend who had their Odyssey in Germany said it was great and traveled all over Europe with it.  Please advise.  Thanks!

Don't do it.  Buy a used minivan when you get there, instead.  Shipping costs, on top of the aggravation mentioned by the previous poster, make it an untenable proposition.  There will be sticker shock when shopping for a car there, but in the long run it will be worth it.  DON'T take a left-side-drive car to a left-side-of-the-road country unless you really really like the car and can't live without it.  Word.

Don't do it.  Buy a used minivan when you get there, instead.  Shipping costs, on top of the aggravation mentioned by the previous poster, make it an untenable proposition.  There will be sticker shock when shopping for a car there, but in the long run it will be worth it.  DON'T take a left-side-drive car to a left-side-of-the-road country unless you really really like the car and can't live without it.  Word.

Actually used cars are generally cheaper here, with better selection.

Actually used cars are generally cheaper here, with better selection.

Agreed.  My BF just got a great car in perfect condition and low mileage for £900.  Something comparable in the states would have probably been at least $3,000.

Agreed.  My BF just got a great car in perfect condition and low mileage for £900.  Something comparable in the states would have probably been at least $3,000.

I must be shopping in the wrong place, or maybe for the wrong car.  Maybe I need to change my focus (I don't mean Ford).     Used cars in the Dorset area seem to be fairly expensive to me, compared to the SE US.  YMMV, literally. 

It's the ticket machines at parking lots that are the killers.  You have to get out run around, press the button, get the ticket, run back around and drive through before the gate closes.

Also paying the toll at the Dartford Tunnel in the winter can be hazardous.

On the other hand, there's nothing more thrilling than trying to pass someone on a country road in Cornwall.  You can't see oncomming cars until you're already out on the other side of the road.  Thrilling is the only word for it.   

I must be shopping in the wrong place, or maybe for the wrong car.  Maybe I need to change my focus (I don't mean Ford).     Used cars in the Dorset area seem to be fairly expensive to me, compared to the SE US.  YMMV, literally. 

Yeah, like in the US I think it can be dependent on a lot of things, especially when it comes to the make and who's selling it.  But generally, from what I've looked at, the prices have been surprisingly low at least compared to what they might be under similar circumstances in New Jersey, which is the only other place I've ever bought a car.

He wound up getting a 2002 diesel 5-door Vauxhall Astra with about 45,000 miles on it.  No rust, no leaks, and the interior is pristine.

I can't believe it.  In 2003 I bought a Toyota that was the same age as this (8 years) that was smaller (Paseo), with about 20,000 more miles on it for $3100.  My mind is blown!

He wound up getting a 2002 diesel 5-door Vauxhall Astra with about 45,000 miles on it.  No rust, no leaks, and the interior is pristine.

I can't believe it.  In 2003 I bought a Toyota that was the same age as this (8 years) that was smaller (Paseo), with about 20,000 more miles on it for $3100.  My mind is blown!

Did you want to make the point by stating how much you paid for the Astra.

I agree previously owned 'motor' cars in the UK are very cheap. Maybe I need to qualify that as to the age of the said motors I'm talking about.

This shipping has been tost around on this forum several times in the past and there is a difference of opinion as to ship or not to ship.

One poster on here shipped a left hand drive Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible and she is glad she did. She loves having it there in the UK.
Two others shipped Ford trucks and even though it wasn't easy they would do it again.
As for driving on the wrong side, some people like it because they go on the continent    a lot were they drive on the right side of the road.

In your case I think the armed services will ship it free or a reduced rate and they may pay for the modifications?

Your particular van, the Odyssey, are common in the UK because they are imported used from Japan and they could be bought at the dock when they are unloaded. Long story.

Me. After reading on here I don't think I would do it because I don't like hassles. Again getting a new car can be a hassle.

I understand in your case you know what you have and its paid for. Big compelling factors.

Being in the Armed Forces you may get a good deal on another member of the Armed Forces who is rotating back to the US and needs to sell their car beforehand. You knew that right?

Your particular van, the Odyssey, are common in the UK because they are imported used from Japan and they could be bought at the dock when they are unloaded. Long story.

Are you sure?  The Odyssey wasn't a UK retail model so the ones here are all import.  A quick search of Autotrader shows fewer than 20 for sale, nationwide.    

That said, there are plenty of second hand UK-spec MPVs arounds at very very low prices.  IMO it wouldn't be worth the hassle of shipping, being on the wrong side of the road, etc.  

Are you sure?  The Odyssey wasn't a UK retail model so the ones here are all import.  A quick search of Autotrader shows less than 20 for sale, nationwide.  

I got caught out
I've just seen a lot of vans on the road in the UK and I assumed there was a lot of Hondas.  I do think I have seen a lot of Toyota Siena vans on the road in the UK.

That said, there are plenty of second hand UK-spec MPVs arounds at very very low prices.  IMO it wouldn't be worth the hassle of shipping, being on the wrong side of the road, etc.  

Like I said it may be a different kettle of fish if they were doing through the US Armed Services. It maybe a lot easier.

Hiya

There are quite a few misconceptions posted here! although I see the reason why they have been posted!

It's very easy to drive a left hand drive car in the UK, provided you are smart and change a few bits and use other elements to help you.

1. Ticket machine - I use a 'grabber' mechanical metal arm. You pull the 'trigger' and it operates a 'grab' mechanism. Open right hand window, use grabber to 'punch' the ticket button, then pull the ticket from the slot with the pinching grab 'fingers'

2. Drive thru's & Toll Crossings - park up, get out and go into the place if you're on your own! if you do have a passenger on the right hand side, get them to bark into the order terminal thing and then to pickup at the delivery window. For the toll crossings, roll the window down and shout at the attendant and reach over and make them reach over too! if someone is in the right passenger seat, see point above!. Simples.

3. If you're driving confidence is up to it, there is nothing wrong with having a left hand drive car/truck/minivan here. Else, with practice and skill you can overcome any anxiety over time.

4. There are cheap cars in each country, I've seen cars change hands for £25 in the UK and $57 USD in the USA. Of course, on the 'general' level, depending on which car you are talking about, then the difference in pricing isn't as great as you'd first think.

5. I was one of the people mentioned in that i brought over a F150 Anniversary Edition truck. 99.8% of the roads are fine for this size vehicle, it's not that much bigger than say a Range Rover or Mitsubishi Shogun etc. I did for about 2 days consider bringing over the much larger F350 Harley Edition, but that was just a tad too big

6. USA cars generally make it over here if they're interesting and sought after. Bread and butter cars don't usually come over, one or two exceptions of course!

7. There is alot of info online about this, and I do think anyone coming over via the US army do indeed get special concessions etc, so do look into those! - I've met and seen some USA cars on US plates etc near some military bases and they've mentioned those concessions!

Hope this helps!

I'm eyeing up several other USA cars to bring over now that the F150 is no longer with me, I do miss it, so might do another outrageous US vehicle!

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Canyonero!

There are some people near where I live have a Ford F250!, a GMC Conversion van (with a giant US flag painted on the roof), a 60's Chevy Impala, and I've even seen a few Mustangs running about and Derby isn't a really big city either...

If you're really attached to it, it's paid off and hasn't had any major problems go for it.

But for the cost of shipping it & modifying it to meet UK requirements you could probably get something comparable here.